Headache

When to Call for Headache

Care Advice

Treatment for Mild Headache

What You Should Know About Mild Headaches:

• Headaches are very common with some viral illnesses. Most often, these will go away in 2 or 3 days.
• Unexplained headaches can occur in children, just as they do in adults. They usually pass in a few hours or last up to a day.
• Most recurrent headaches that can occur in anyone are muscle tension headaches.
• Most headaches (including muscle tension headaches) are helped by the following measures.

Pain Medicine:

• To help with the pain, give an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
• Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil).
• Use as needed.
• Headaches due to fever are also helped by bringing the fever down.

Food May Help:

• Give fruit juice or food if your child is hungry.
• If your child hasn't eaten in more than 4 hours, offer some food.
• Reason: skipping a meal can cause a headache in many children.

Rest - Lie Down:

• Lie down in a quiet place and relax until feeling better.

Cold Pack for Pain:

• Put a cold pack or a cold wet washcloth on the forehead.
• Do this for 20 minutes. Repeat as needed.

Stretch Neck Muscles:

• Stretch and rub any tight neck muscles.

Muscle Tension Headache Prevention:

• If something bothers your child, help him talk about it. Help him get it off his mind.
• Teach your child to take breaks when he is doing school work. Help your child to relax during these breaks.
• Teach your child the importance of getting enough sleep.
• Some children may feel pressure to achieve more. This may cause headaches. If this is the case with your child, help him find a better balance.
• Caution: frequent headaches are often caused by too much stress or worry. To be sure, get your child a medical checkup first.

Call Your Doctor If:

• Headache becomes severe
• Vomiting occurs
• Headache without other symptoms lasts more than 24 hours
• Headache lasts more than 3 days
• You think your child needs to be seen
• Your child becomes worse

Treatment for Migraine Headache

What You Should Know About Migraine Headaches:

• This headache is like the migraine headaches that your child has had before.
• The sooner a migraine headache is treated, the more likely the treatment will work.
• Often the most helpful treatment is going to sleep.
• Here is some care advice that should help.

Migraine Medicine:

• If your child's doctor has prescribed a medicine for migraines, use it as directed. Give it as soon as the migraine starts.
• If not, you can use ibuprofen (such as Advil). It is the best over-the-counter drug for migraines. Give it now. Repeat in 6 hours if needed.

Try to Sleep:

• Have your child lie down in a dark, quiet place.
• Try to fall asleep.
• People with a migraine often wake up from sleep with their migraine gone.

Prevention of Migraine Attacks:

• Drink lots of fluids.
• Don't skip meals.
• Get enough sleep each night.

What to Expect:

• With treatment, migraine headaches usually go away in 2 to 6 hours.
• Most people with migraines get 3 or 4 attacks per year.

Return to School:

• Children with a true migraine headache are not able to stay in school.
• Children with migraine headaches also commonly get muscle tension headaches. For those, they should take a pain medicine and go to school.

Call Your Doctor If:

• Headache becomes much worse than past migraines
• Headache lasts longer than past migraines
• You think your child needs to be seen

Remember! Contact your doctor if you or your child develop any "Contact Your Doctor" symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.